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5 things to know about the Indiana Pacers 2014-15 schedule

Zak Keefer, zak.keefer@indystar.com
6:49 p.m. EDT August 13, 2014

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Pacers center Roy Hibbert, left, and forward David West head back up court during the second half of action. Indiana Pacers play the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals Sunday, May 18, 2014, afternoon at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Pacers defeated the Heat 107-96.(Photo: Matt Kryger / The Star)Buy Photo

It's not hard to read the writing on the wall with this one.

The Indiana Pacers will be playing at the very least the bulk – and very likely the entire – coming season without their superstar. In turn, the league's national television affiliates took note.

The result is a 2014-15 regular season schedule not befitting a team coming off consecutive appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals, but one of a team many expect to be a shell of its former self.

Sans Paul George – out for the year after breaking his right leg in a USA Basketball scrimmage on Aug. 1 – Indiana will see its national television appearances drop significantly from their 2013-14 campaign. After playing on either ESPN, ABC or TNT 11 times last season, it will do so only five times this year.

The Pacers will open their 2014-15 season at home on Oct. 29 against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Indiana will have games against Washington (Nov. 5), Miami (Nov. 12), New York (Jan. 29), Chicago (March 18) and Washington (April 14) televised on either ESPN or TNT.

Here are four additional storylines to watch in light of the schedule release:

Lance is Back

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Lance Stephenson will make his first appearance at Bankers Life Fieldhouse as a member of the Charlotte Hornets on Nov. 19.(Photo: Brent Drinkut / The Star)

Just months removed from spurning Larry Bird's 5-year, $44-million offer to become a member of the Charlotte Hornets, Lance Stephenson returns to Bankers Life Fieldhouse for the first time on Nov. 19.

Most intriguing will be the reception Stephenson receives from the Indiana fans who so loyally supported him during his four seasons with the team.

While its inarguable the dynamic and sometimes disruptive Stephenson played a vital role in helping Indiana to back-to-back Eastern Conference finals appearances – Stephenson started 150 games and all 38 playoff contests over the past two seasons – his abrupt exit left many blue-and-gold backers shaking their head.

Certainly, a Pacers-Heat matchup this coming season will lack the considerable cache it's brought with it in years past.

There will be no LeBron James. No Paul George. No Lance Stephenson.

And, sadly, no Lance Stephenson blowing in the ear of LeBron James.

(Ah, memories.)

Regardless, Indiana's visit to South Beach on Nov. 12 is still a rematch of each of the past two Eastern Conference finals, and still plenty loaded with rosters of players who had critical roles in those battles: Roy Hibbert, David West, George Hill, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and, of course, Danny Granger, who will play his first game against the Pacers since being traded last year.

The King and his new friends

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After seeing LeBron James for 19 playoff games over the past three seasons, Indiana will welcome him back into the Central Division this season.(Photo: Matt Dial / The Star)

The latest version of the Eastern Conference's Big Three – Cleveland's LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love – won't arrive at Bankers Life Fieldhouse until Feb. 6 to take on an Indiana team that's captured the past two Central Division crowns.

As for James, he'll return to South Beach for the first time since leaving Miami for his home state on Christmas Day. It's one of five NBA games featured on the holiday, none of which include the Pacers: Washington visits New York, Oklahoma City visits San Antonio, the Los Angeles Lakers visit Chicago and Golden State visits the Los Angeles Clippers.

NBA players will find themselves with a lot more free time during the month of February. A new wrinkle introduced in this year's schedule mandates at least an eight-day break for teams. Indiana will enjoy a nine-day break from Feb. 11- Feb. 20.